Ultra-high-speed pneumatically driven machine tools, such as drills and the like



Aug. 20, 1963 Y Filed 001,. 2, 1961 Z we Zhz 7;

ULTRAHIGH -SPEED PNEUMATICALLY DRIVEN MACHINE 3 Sheet-Sheet 1 TOOLS, SUCH AS DRILLS AND THE LIKE 75;? INVENTORS.

HENRY H761 ROW5 76; ULRICH M --GI$-5L.ER

1953 .H. G. ROWE ETAL 3,101,014

ULTRAHIGH- ED PNEUMATICALLY DRIVEN MACHINE TOOLS, SUCH AS DRILLS AND THE LIKE Filed Oct. 2, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TORS 1! 7 h 6' ry 79 BY I (Maggi l 762/ .7 $6 50 fly'raz vir A 1953 1 H. H. e. ROWE ETAI. 3,101,014

' ULTRA-HIGH-SPEED PNEUMATICALLY DRIVEN MACHINE TOOLS, SUCH AS DRILLS AND THE LIKE Filed Oct- 2, 1961 3 $heetsSheet 3 INVENTORS HENRY u. q. ROWE ULRICH M. Gerssuaa lcating, rotary, variable speed, engine. r Another object is a reciprocating, rotary, air-powered,

- r 3,101,014 U LTRA-HIGH-SPEED PNEUMATICALLY DRIVEN TOOLS, SUCH AS DRILLS AND THE Henry H. Rowe, 4j Southard Sh, Baldwin, N.Y.,

and Ulrich M. Geissler, 211 Sportsman Ave., Free- 51 Filed Oct. 2, 1961, Ser; No. 142,341 7 21 Claims. (Cl. 77-+33.5)

This invention relates to improvements in air-driven motors or air turbines, and, more particular-ly'to improventents inair-motor drivenmachine, to-ols, such as airpowered drills, grinders, and the like.

One object of this invention is an air-powered, recipro-.

1 tool whose housing may be either movably or fixedly supported with respect to the work to enhance the utility and therange of the tool. 7 i i v Another object is an automatic pneumatic drilling device which is precision controlled to operate at varying ,speeds from low to ultra high, and which -is-adapted to move the drill axially towards and away from the work irrespective of the drill speed. i p a 1 Another object is a turbine drill wherein the turbine also operates as a piston within the turbine chamber.

Another object is a turbine drill which telescopes axially responsive to variations in pressure to drill while the turbine is revolving, at speeds whichcan be varied during, and independently of, said telescopic action.

Another object is a compressed air powered turbine which telescopes as it rotates in bearings which are continuously lubricated and cooled b-ya lubricant-coolant comprising oil in suspension incompressed air. I

Another -ob'ect isa variablef speed, telescopic, air- .powered, turbine, whose speed of rotation, and telescopic action, are selectively, independently, air-controlled.

Anotherobject is an air powered' and wariable-speed reciprocating turbine whose speed of rotation, and the direction and extent of whose axialmovement, are selectively, and independently, lair-controlled. Another object is a variablespeed turbine, useful as a drill, and comprising a piston which is both rotatable and axially movable up anddown with respect both to a turbine holding means and to thework. 1

Another object is an air-powered, reciprocating, rotary, variable-speed, engine,.which reciprocates with a controlled and cushioned air action. 7

Another object is a reciprocating, variable-speed, ro tary engine, which is pneumatically actuated, and whose reciprocating stroke is variable and is pneumatically cushioned at all times at all engine speeds.

United States Patent" 4 3 ,101,614 Patented Aug. 20, 1963 Another object is a reciprocating, variable-speed, lairdriven turbine, whose reciprocating stroke is pneumatically cushioned and controlled, independently of speed variations of the turbine.

Another object is the suppression of the noise generated by an air-driven turbine.

Another objectis an improvedcollet forsecurely hold,- ing the stems of miniature-sized drills. Another object is a. reciprocating, variable-speed, 'airdriven turbine of but few and simple parts, which is easy and economical to manufacture, readily assembled and disassembled, positive in operation, and very efficient and durable in use. I jjOt-her objects will appear from the detailed description.

In the drawing: i FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one torm of the invention, depending from a suitable support thereto-r. FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the device of FIG. 1 partially .broken away and partly in cross section, with the support omitted.

; FIG. 3 is a cross section partly in plan, taken along the line 3-3 ofFIG. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows. FIG. 4 is a vertical cross sectional view of a fragment of the housing portion of the device of FIG. 2, with the turbine omitted. j

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the lower portion of the housing ofjthe device of FIG. 2;

v FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view of a fragment, taken along the line 6-6 of FIG. 5, looking in the direction'of the arrows. FIG. 7 diagrammatically illustrates the inventionmodified for automatic operation as in mass production of work; and

.' FIGS. 8 and 9 diagrammatically illustnate two other inodified. forms of automatic control devices, suitablefor ;use to eifect mass production of work.

. Like reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawing.

The housing of the air-powered:turbine IS-is provided :with a shank 29 by means whereof the housing for the turbine may be mounted in any standard machine, fixture, or

stand 19, which may be equipped with a split socket 19a i for receiving the shank 29, and the socket 194 Y may be tightened by a clamping screw 1%.

Theturbine 18 includes an upper housing 20 and a lower housing Z1 which cooperate and in conjunction define a chamber 83 (FIG; 4) wherein the turbine rotor 22 I mounted in such manner that it is free to rotate upon its spindle 23 which is journalled: to'rotate in, and to telescope axially between, two bushings which constitute as upper. bearing 39 and the lower bearing 44 for the spindle 23. The bushings arepress fitted in two centrally disposed, oppositely spaced holes, for-med in the upper,

' and the lower, housings, 20 and 21; and when the housings are in-correct'registry to complete the chamber 83', the said bushings form the bearings 39 and 44 wherein the spindle 23-is journalled to rotate and to telescope axially.

The housings 20' and 21 in conjunction define the chamher '83 (FIG. .4). Thechamber 83 is longer, axially, than the turbine rotor2'2 to permit axial, or telescopicmovement of the rotor- 22 up and down, between, and limited by, the spacing between the bearings .39 and 44.. The

I :is supplied from a compressed air line the tail projecting, substantially annular flange 2011 (FIG. 2), and

21 a (FIGS. 2 and by which the housings may be brought into correct registry, and may then be secured together by thescrews 59,, 59 of which only one is shown inFIG. 2. The lower end of the spindle 23' "ex tends through the lower bearing 44 and projects through the bottom of the lower housing tar. enough to receive a idrill holder such as the collet sleeve 24 (FIG. 2). The collet sleeve 24- may be secured upon the spindle 23 in any suitable manner, as with a pressed fit. The nose of the collet sleeve 24 is male threaded to receive a female threaded drawcap 25, by rneanslwhereof a tapered collet -26 composed of a compressible plastic, or Ililce resilient material, is retained within a tapered socket foamed in the nose'of the collet sleeve 24. The collet 26, and the lower end of thejspindle 23 are bored axially to slidy ably receive the shank of a drill26a. The collet 26 is sufliciently elastic when compressed by thecone joint between the male coneiormed at the. end of the collet and the female cone formed in the nose of the drawcap 25, to lock the shank of the drill 26a to the collet to the collet sleeve 24. Collet sleeve 24, and drawcap 25,.are each provided with-wrench-flats 24a, and 25a, respectively, by means whereof the drawcap 25 maybe adjusted along the collet sleeve 24 to lock thedrill 26Zz'in the collet 2A6, and the collet 26 in the collet sleewe 24. i Y

A mufller consisting of a substantially horseshoe-shaped housing-27 substantially C-shaped in cross section, is seated upon the upper .face of the laterally projecting, substantially horseshoe shaped, flange 20a of the'upper housing 20. 'The housing 20 is also projecting protuberance or shoulder the opposite ends of the housing 35a (FIG. 3) and 2710f said horseshoe shaped mufiler embrace the side walls of the shoulder 3 5a (FIG. 3), to detachably clamp the mufiler housing 27 upon the upper housing 20. The ,C-shaped channel in the the collet 26 and s housings 21 and 22 are each' 'provided with a laterally grooves or airpassages formed in thebody of the lower housing 21.

As previously stated, when the upper, and lower, hous- I rings 20, and 211, are brought together in correct registry, and the assembly screws 59, 59 (FIG. 2) are-inse1ted through the clearance hole 58 and screwed into the tapped holes 57, the flanges Zita and 21a coop'erateto complete the turbine cylinder. chamber and to effect an air-tight seal between the correlated walls thereof- The airflow passage between valve passage 56 and the flow groove 45 and which is under. the control of the needle valve 30 has already beendescribed. Flow groove 45 circles around the upper faced the flange 21a of the lower housing 21 and registers with the flow passages 46 and 48' (FIG. 3 which extend upwardly throughthe body of the upper housing some 1 80 degrees apart to join the air nozzles 47 (FIGS. 2. and 3) and 49 (FIG .'3)'.

The nozzles 47 and 49 pass through the cylindrical wall -of the turbine charnlber 83) (FIG. 3) to register with the arrow in FIG. 3, to-the turbine 22. Two separateexpam sion cavities 5'1- and 53 extend part way'around the wall provided With a laterally rnufller housing is loosely packed with fibre glass 28 V or the like, and this packing muflles and suppresses audible tones generated by the passage of the compressed air through the turbine rotor 22. A series of holes 28a formed in the wall of the housing 27 allows the compressed air which filters through the fibreglass 28 to escape to atmosphere; p

Compressedair foroperating the air-powered engine 87 (FIG. 1) which is coupled by a male threaded coupling 88 in the female threaded air inlet 35 (FIG; 2). The. air inlet 35 is connected by a valve passage 56 inthe upper housing120 with-the tail'45a of the flow groove formed inthe upper face of the laterally projecting substantiallyi'annular'fiange 21a of the 2, 3, and 5 Thevalve passage 56 is controlled by a needle valve 3't) (FIG. 2), having a valve stem 31 which is adjustable across the valve passage 56 to constrict the flow of compressed through said valvepassage to lower housing 21 (FIGS.

flow groove 45 is concentric and extends over an arc 5). The needle valve with the turbine chamber, greater than a semi-circle (FIG. 30 is male threaded at 32 for adjustment axially inzlthe female threadedportion of the the air inlet 35 airflow passages or ducts extend around said stern by an O-shaped sealing a of rubber or other suitable compressible turbine buckets'Sb', Stir-see also the nozzle 47 in registry with the turbine buckets 50 in FIG. '2; The air nozzles 47 and 4 9 enter the turbine chamber 83 FIG. 4) at two diametrically opposite points spaced lpdegrees apart- (FIG; 3), and the nozzles are inclined at anjangle corresponding substantially with the angle of inclination of the turbine buckets 50, 50 to feed. compressed air into the buckets in succession in their direction' of rotation, and thus impart rotary motion in the direcionof the cf the turbine chamber at thelevel of the air nozzles 47 and 49. The expansion cavity '51 extends clockwise around'the cylindrical wall of the turbine chamber 83 from a point slightly forwardof the nozzle 47 and connects with an exhaustport -52 slightly less thanjlSO I degrees beyond the mouth of the nozzle 47. The'expa'nsi-on cavity 53 likewise/extends clockwise around 'the cylindricalwall of the turbine chamber 83 from a point slightly forward of the nozzlef49 and'connects with-an nozzles'47 and 49' into it circulates clockwise. wards the exhaust ports 52 and54, respectively.

The exhaust ports 52 and 54 exhaust into the loose fibrous material 28 which fills themufiler housing 27,

and the compressed air, exhausted through said exhaust.

ports," filters through the muffler filling material 28, and

vents to atmosphere through a series of vent holes 28a (FIGS. 2 and '3) The compressed air expressed through the nozzles 47 and 49 into the turbine buckets 5h, 50 causes the turbine l 22 to rotate clockwise, andits speed of rotatio'ng iscon trolled by adjusting the needle valve 30 thus arriving-its valve stem 31 across the valve passage, Soto variously throttle valve passage 56 and thus regulate the rate of airflow therethrough- As the throttle is reported, the

speed of rotation of the air-turbine 221 is increased. The

needle valve" 30 is quickly adjustable by the operator without theme of special tools to elfect aprecise setting of the speed of the drill 26a to suit the requirements of the particular work. l

Atomized oil suspended in the compressed air supplied through the compressed air line 87 cools and lubricates the bearings 39 and 44, and the spindle 23 of the turbine 22-, in the following manner. the air inlet 35 connects dire-ctlywith two 'airpassages 36. and '55 which completely bypass the needle valve 30. The passage 36 (FIG. 2) extends upwardly. from the air inlet 35 into the cavity which accommodates the bushing which forms the upper bearing 39,

As best shown in FIG. 2, n Y

7 I and allow-cavity 37 V enc rcles said bushing and connects with the ilowpas the spindle isters-with the flow passage sages 38, 38 whichextend through the annular, wallof the bushing into the interior of the bearing 39- to the face of the spindle 23. Atomized oil suspended in the compressedair supplied from the compressed air line 87 through the air inlet 35 thus circulates around and lubricates the, bearing. 39 and the spindle 23, the oil in suspension in'the compressed air acting as a lubricant, and

23 journalled in said hearing. The flow passage 55 extends"downwardly through-the wall of the upper. l1ousing20 and registers with the'flow. groove 40 (F1692) formed'in the annular flange 21a of the lower housing 21 (FIG; 5). ZI'he flow groove 46 circles counterclockwise: and connects with a' how passage 41"which extends radially inwards (FIGS. .2 and 5) and connects with the cavity which accommodates the bushing which forms the bearing 44. A flow cavity 42 encircles the bushing and connects with the cross holes 43 which pass through the annular wall of the bushing into the lower bearing 44 and to theface of the spindle 23. The

atomized oil in suspension in the compressed air thus circulates around the bearing and the spindle, the atomized 'oil'aoting as alubricant and the compressed air as a coolant, for the lower bearing 44 and for the spindle an arc of approximately 90 degrees to-connect with a flow passage 71 which terminates in the cavity formed atthe inner 'en'd of the bore 70 wherein-the control valve 60 (FIGS; 2, 4, and 5) is rotatablysupported. The control valve 60 includes a valve stem 62 (FIGS. 4an'd 6) which is rotatable in the bore 70* under the control of the operating lever 60a (compare FIGSVZ, 4,-and. 5).

The'valve stem 62 is centrally drilled to form a central passage or bore radial passage 64 with a crescent-shaped"chamber which is formed between the cam-shaped portion of the valve stem62 which isfiindicated at 65' in FIG. '6, and the cylindrical face of the bore 70. A portion of the valve stem 62 (FIG. 6) is cut away through an arc ofapproximately90'degrees (FIG; 6) toform the cam-shaped portion' .65 of the valve stem 62. Two flow passages 66, and 67 (FIG. 6)-are formed in the body of the lower housing 21 (FIG. 6), and either' of these flo'w'passages frnay be connected through the radial passage fij tandcem tral passage or bore 63 tothe compressed air inlet passage "35 by way of the flow passage 71, 'fiowgroove" 40, --and--passage 55 (FIGSLS, and 2), C 1

5, and 4), connects I a with the how groove '68 formed in theupper face 0 511116 flange 2111 (FIG; 5),and thellow groove'68 in turn reg- 69 (FIGS; 3 and 4) which extends upwardly through the body of the'upper housing 720 (FIG. 4) and enters the upper chamber 80 (FIG. 2) through the daceof "the top wall of the turbine cylinder chainber 83 (FIG. 4). a The flow passage 67 extends radially inwards through the 'body of the lower housing and emerges through the upper face of said lower housing 21 into the turbine cylinder 83 below the turbine 22. When 63 (FIG. 6) which connects through a the compressed gairasa coolant, iorthe bearing and for air nozzles 47 and 49, but also operates as a piston having two working faces 22a, and 22b, rformed bythe upper,

and the lower, walls, respectively, of the turbine 22 (see FIG. 2).

The supply of compressed air to the working faces of the pistons 22a, and 22b, is controlled by the position of the valve'stem 62 (FIG. 6). The two flow passages 66, 67 are approximately 90 degrees apart (FIG. 6), and

the crescent-shaped chamber formed between the cylindri- 2,5 The flow groove 40 (FIG; 5) curves around the upper faceof the flange 21a of' the lower housing 21throu-gh V the turbine 22 is rotatably supported in thec'ylinde'r; chamupperchamber 80 above 'theturbine 22, or by a similar flow of compressedair into the lower chamber'8'1 below the turbine 22, or by a divided flow of compressed air into the, upper, and the lower, chambers SO and 81. The

turbine 22 thus not only functions -as arotor driven by compressed 'air'discharged into the buckets St), 50 by the cal wall of the bore 70 and the cam-shaped portion 65 of the valve stem 62 also extends approximately 90 degrees around the outer face of the valve stem 62, so that in the position shown in FIG. 6 the crescent-shaped chamber bridges the flow passages 66. and 67 and connects both of said flow passages to the radial passage 64 and thence to the compressed-air inlet passage 35, to supply compressed air to both working :faces 22a, and 22b of the piston-turbine 22. 1 I

7 By turning theoperatingjlever 60a clockwise from the valving position shown in FIG. 6 the crescent-shaped chamber waxes larger in the direction of the flow passage 66 until the radial passage attains a position coaxial with the flowpassage 66 thereby applying the full torce 0f the compressed air in the upperchamber 80 and to the work- I log lace22a of the piston-turbine 22, while at the same time restricting the flow passage 67 to the point of cut-ofi by the sealing action of the cylindrical portion of the outer face of the valve stem 62 and shutting off the supply of compressed air to the lower chamber 81. The pistonturbine while continuing its rotary movement now moves axially downwards in the bearings 39 and 44 to'ap'ply increased drilling pressure to the drill 26a and to the work. Conversely, by turning the operating lever 60a counterclockwise, the radial passage 64 approaches a position coaxial with the flow. passage 67 while at the same time restrictingthe flow passage 66 to the point of cut-0E by the sealingaction effected by the valve stem 60. An increased.

supply of compressed air isnow connected to the lower chamber 81 to act against the lower working [face 22b of the piston-turbine 22, While at the same timethe supply of compressed air to the upper chamber 80 is shut off.

'Ihe pistomturbine now moves axially upwards to lift the dr1ll'26a and suspend the drilling operation.

,Thus the direction, and the extent of movement of the operating lever 60a, controls and varies the amount of compressed air supplied through their respective flowpassages. 69 and 67 :(FIG, 4) to the working 84265015 the pistons 22aand 22b,to control the direction and the extentjof movement of the drill 26a.

. The extent of movement of the operating lever 60a is determined by the setting of the adjustable stop screws and 76 4 and 2) which engage the opposite sides of the inner e nd of the operating lever 60a to limit its travel .and the extentof rotation of the control valve 60. 1 (FIG. 4),.. and of its valve stem 62 (FIG. 6). The stop ,screws 75 and 76 are threaded in thestop plates73 and 74 respectively, andi thestop-plates are mounted uponthe body of the lower housing 21 by the mountingscrews 79,

.79.-.(FIGS.' Z and 5). The control valve 60 is retained in oi tlie stop plates 73 and .74. v The toe pieces 73a, 74a register in the annular groove 61 with a sliding fit so that the valve 60 is free to .turn in the bore 70 but cannot be withdrawn therefrom without first dismounting the stop plates 75 andf74 thus disengaging the toe pieces 73a, 74a irorn .theaunular groove 61. The inner shoulder of the valve 60 which confines the groove 61 also functions as a retaining ring for the O-ring 72 (FIG. 4) which is mounted upon the valve stem 62 and is compressed between said inner shoulder of the valve 60 and the stepped shoulder of the valve bore 70 to effect an airtight seal. The O-ring :72 may consist of any suitable compressible material; a

rubber O-ring gives good results. 'Theicoiled springs 77 and 78 which are mounted upon the stop screws 75 and 76- and are positioned between the heads of said stop the valve bore'70 by the inturned toe pieces 73a and 74a 7 beyond the expansion cavities51 and 53.

screws and the outer" faces of the stop plates 73 and 74 are maintained under sufficient tension at'all times to prevent any accidental change of adjustment of the stop screws.

The spacing betweenthe upper and lower bearings 39 7 and 44- is such that the axial movement of the pistonturbine or turbine-rotor 22 is so limited that the buckets 50, t never travel beyond the air nozzles V V 47 and 49oz The piston-turbine or turbine-rotor 22 effectively subdivides the turbine hca-mber83 (FIG. 4) intothree co mpartments, namely, an upper chamber 30 (FIG. 2) confined above, and by the upper piston 22a, a lower chamber =81 (FIG. 2) confined by an'dbelow the-lower piston 22b, and an intermediate annular passage confined radially between the'inner face of the cylindrical wall of the upper housing 20 and theouter face ofthe turbinerotor 22, and constricted at top and bottom by the skirting wallsof the pistons 22a and 2212. This annular passage is'in constant communication with the exhaust ports 52 ai1d54' by way of the eiipansion cavities 51 and 53, so that the pressure of' the air in said annular passage is below the pressure of the air supplied to the upper chamber 80, and to the lower chamber-81. This difference in pressure causes the air in the chambers 80 and 81 to bleed along the skirting walls of their respectivep'istons 22a and 22b into said annular passage and to escape through the exhaust ports 52 and 54. -Whenever the turbine-rotor moves axially downwards in the cylinder cham ber 83 responsive to an increase in the" compressed air supplied to'the upper chamber "80 under control of the twoe'way valve 62, the sealing area'betweien the skirting wall of the piston 22a and the inner face of the cylindrical wall of the upper housing 20 is reduced while at the'same time thesealing area between the skirting wall of the piston 22b and the inner face of thecyllindrical wall of said 'liousiugjtl is increased An-y reduction in the sealing area increases bleeding fr-om'the, affected chamber, while an inciease'in' the sealing area"reduces bleeding from the afiectedichamber. Thus asthe turbine-rotor moves downwards in the cylinder chamber 83' due to; an increase in the supplywofcompnessed air to the upper chamber 80jbleed- 'ing around the skirting wall of the said piston 22a in creases thus tending to reduce the pressure within the chamber 80' while reduced bleeding around the skirting wall of the pistonZZb' builds up the pressure inthe lower chamber 81, The increased pressure in the, lower chamber 81 tends to oppose the. continued downward move;

mentof the turbine-rotor 22 and balances the turbinerotor in a free floating position; In this-free floating position the resultant of the forces acting'upon .the turbinerotor is zero. In the free floating position of the. turbines rotor 22, the air supplied to the upper chamber 80- minus the bleedingaround the skirting wall of the pistonfZZu develops a pressure which is equal and opposite to the pressure developed in thelower chamber 81 by. the air supplied thereto minus thebleeding around the. skirting Wallofthe piston 22b.' I

i To drill a hole in the worklnotshown), the war is first placed beneath the drill 26a, and the lever arm 60a is moved downwards to increase the supply of compressed air to the upper chamber 80, thus movingthe free float-- 1 ing turbine-rotor vertically downwards and bring the drill 26a into contact with the work. At the moment of contact between the drill 26a and the work'the turbine-rotor- 22 is still in a free floating condltion, hence no pressure is being applied to the drill 26a. The continued downward movement of the lever arm 60a increases the air supply tothe upper chamber 80, and't his tends to move the turbine-rotor downwards against the opposition of the work to the drill, and if the reqiured drilling pressure is present, the drill 26q commences to drill. During the drilling operation, bleeding continuesaround the skirting walls of bothofthe pistons 22a and 2212, but as the turbine-rotor continues its downward movement in the cylin- 'derch'amber 83, bleeding around'the upper pistons .skirt- 7 I ingwall increases while bleeding around the skirting wall "of the lower piston decreases, and when the resultant of all the'iorces which aifect the downward movement of the turbine-motor is insufiicient to provide the'required drilling pressure, the drill 2.6a stopsv penetrating the work.

Due to the elasticity of the air in the upper, and thelower, chambers, 80 and 81, when compressed by the axial move- -sment of the turbine-rotor-22, and thevariations in bleedin'g around the skirting Walls of the pistohsZZaand 22b a is set in the downposition but with the stop screws so. adjusted that in said down position of the, handle 6% some compressed air is stillsupplied to the lower'chamber a 81 and the turbine-rotor 22 is in aifree floating position in proximity to the lower bearing debut without physical contact therewith. .The quillis then moved downwards until the drill 25a is in contact the work, andat the moment of such, contact .theturbine-rotor 22 isstill in a ffree floating condition. As the quill continues itstravel,

I pressureis applied to the drill and this pressure acts in an upward direction and .infopposition. to the pressure de- 'veloped in the upper chamber by the compressedain supplied thereto. The turbine-rotor 22now moves upwa'rds inthechamber '83 and'in so'doing it increases the sealing area between the skirting. wall of the piston 224 and the inner'face of the cylindrical wall of the. upper Chousinglt), thus reducing wall of said upper housing 2i thus increasing bleeding from the lower chamber 81 and reducing the pressure therein, and when theresultant ofthe foregoing pressures acting upon the turbine-rotor 22 develops a force suflicient to provide the nequireddrilling pressure, the'drill 26a begins to penetrate the, work, and as long. as the quill follows the penetration of. the drill it continues to provide the required drilling pressure.

.It-therefore appears that the working pressure applied t the drill can be varied either by varying the supply of "compressed air to the upper chamber 80, or by'changing the position of the'drillf relative to the wor'k without changing the flow of compressed air to the upper chamber 80. 'It also appears that pneumatic cushioning ofthe turbine-rotor, which cushioning is transmitted to "the drill 26a; is eifected throughout all stagesof the work,

A reference line ue marked upon the collet sleeve 24 may be read against the calibrations .85 upon the scale of the position measuringplate 86. The plate'86 is attached to the lowerhousing 21 by machine screws 86a: As the 'drill 26a moves up or down along the scale the reference 7 line 34 upon the collet sleeve registers'with the scale markings to indicate the ratio between the downfeed'v andthe extent of penetration byfthe drill 26a.

1 actuate the plunger FIGS. 7, 8, and 9, illustrate several suggested automa- 'tion systemsembodying' the air turbine lS. In each system the two-way valve 60 is coupled to-a device which 60 to impart axialoperates cyclicly to cause the valve movement to the turbine rotor 22(F=IG 1).

In FIG. 7, an endless chain or thelike;

thuscausing the cams 91, operating in timed, sequence, to

supply air from a compressed airline 92 to a branch pipe 91a connected with one end of a pneumatic cylinder whichis separated into two compartments by adouble ended pneumatically actuated pistonl The piston which is extended to provide a coupling 6 attached to the op bleeding from the upper chamber 30 and-building up the pressure therein, while atthe same time reducing the sealing area between the skirting wall of the piston 22b and the innerface' of the cylindrical I carrying a' series of cams 91 (of which only one is shown) advances,

94 of a three-way air valve 95 and crating handle of the two-way .valve60of the a'iitu'rbine 18, moves up and down under the influence of compressed air to actuate said operating handle and causethe turbine-rotor 22 (FIG. 1) to movein' the manner previously described to apply drilling pressure to the drill 26a and against the work, and thereafter to remove the drill from the work during the second half of the operating cycle. This second-half cycle begins when the continued advance of the endless chain allows the plunger 94 to release and exhaust the branch pipe 910: to atmosphere 7 while at the same time supplying compressed air from the air line 92 through the branch pipe 91b to the opposite end of the pneumatic cylinder thus causing the plunger extending from the double ended piston to move the operating handle and the two-way valve 60 in the reverse direction thereby causing the 'turbinerotor 22 (FIG. 1) to move axially upwards. and remove the drill fromthe'work. I 1' Z 1 In the modified form shown in FIG. 8, the operating cycle is controlled by a compressionspring 100' acting against a cam 101, revolving upon a cam shaft which is rotating at appropriate speed.

, .opens and closes periodically under control of a plunger 106 which moves up and downas each .cam 91 (FIG.'7)

. of a series, attached to an .endless chain or the like passes beneath the plunger 106. The electrical circuit includes a sourceof electric current (not shown); The solenoid plunger moves up and down as the switch 105 opens and closes to make and break the electrical circuit through the solenoid 103, and the up and down movement of'the solenoid plunger in turn, through its coupling 107, actuates the two-way valve 60 throughthe movement of its operating handle and causes the turbine-rotor'22 of the air-turbine 18 to cycle in the manner previously described.

The air-turbine 18 may be mounted .in any standard machine which is thus converted into a machine for accurately drilling small holes at ultra-high speeds (30,000 to 120,000 rpm.) in the toughest materials, such as tool steel, and the like. The air turbine'is' able to drill precision holes with drills 'as small or as tine as 0.001 inch in tool steel and the like, withoutbreaking the drill, and without the need of special operator skill. The built-in needle valve 30 is quickly adjustable without the use of special tools to any'precise setting of drill speed which is best suited to the requirements of the particular work.

The verticalfeedcontrol or axial movement of the turbine-rotor 22 is adjustable, independently of the drill speed, to suit the drill which isto be used, and once the 'the exhaust of said other compressed air from above and below said turbine in accordance with the axial movement of said turbine in said chamber.

2. The invention as defined in claim l-wherein the at chamber is provided with bushings, said bushingsbein'g. spaced apart to define bearings wherein the turbine is mounted to rotate andtomove axially, and passageways The compression spring 100 seeksto move the operatinghandle ofthe two-way and cool said bearings.

extending through the wall of said chamber and into said bearings for conveying atomized oilin suspension in compressed air to said bearings to simultaneously lubricate 3. The invention as I defined in claim lwherein the compressed air in passing through saidchamber to cause said turbine to rotate generates sounds of high frequency, a mufller encircling said air chamber, said air inexhausting from said chamber passing through said muffler, and said muffler being effective to absorb and-to muffle said high frequency sounds.

4. The invention as defined inclaim 1 wherein the other compressed air supplied above and below said turbine to variably control the axial movement of the turbine effects a cushioning of its said axial m'ovement in all positions thereof; g 5. In a turbine engine and in combination an air chamber, a turbine mounted'tor rotary and for vertical up-and-down movement in said air chamber when actuated by compressed air, said turbine having upper and lower walls defining upper and lower pistons, means'for supplying compressed air to said chamber to rotate said its passage around said turbine and to exhaust the said air. from said chamber, and means for controlling the supply of other compressed air to said chamber ,above said '35 turbine and to vary the 'speed of rotation thereof, means permitting said supply of compressed air to expand in upper piston and below said lower piston to variably control the vertical up-and-down movement of said turbine,

and means defined in said chamber forming a common communication between said chamber aboveand below said turbine and said air exhaust meansto provide a communication for said other compressed airfrom said chamber to said'air exhaust means. it

'6. The invention as defined in claim 2 wherein the compressed air supplied tothe air chamber to control the speed of rotation of said turbine causes the generation of sounds of high frequency, the frequency of said sounds increasing with increases inthe speed of rotation intercepted air.

desired feed control has been adjusted and set, the

chamber to variably control the speed of rotation of v said turbine, means enabling said compressed air thus controlled to expand and to exhaust from said air chamber, means for controlling other compressed air supplied to said air chamber above and below said turbine to variably control the extent of the axial movement of said turbine,

and means defined in said chamber variably restricting of the turbine, a muffler encircling said air chamber, a

sound-absorbent material positioned'in said mufiler and defining a sound filter, said sound filter-intercepting the air exhausted from said air chamber, and said sound filter filtering out the sounds of high '7. The invention as defined in claim 2 wherein the compressed air supplied to the air chamber to vary the speed of rotation of the turbine expands in its passage around said turbine thereby generating a series, of -explosions'recurring at high frequency, the frequency of said explosions increasing withincreases in the speed of rotation of the turbine, a muffler encircling the air chamber to intercept the air exhausted fromsaidair chamber, and a sound absorbent materialpositioned in said mufiler in the exhaust path of said intercepted air. I

8. A turbine engine as defined in claim 5 whereinthe other compressed air supplied above and below said pistons to variably control the vertical up-and-down movement of the turbine moves through said communication provided by said means defined in said chamber and produces a free floating action upon said turbine 'in all positions thereof. I Q

9. The invention as defined in claim 5 herein'the vertical up-and-down movement of the'pistons causes the compressed air supplied above and below said pistons to bleed past the skirting walls of said pistonsthroughsaid communication provided by said means defined in said chamber and into said exhaust, said exhaust being a pasfrequency from said I Monnier Nov. 25, 1939 Broders et al. Apr. 21, 1942 White -2 Aug. 14,1945

Rawson Feb.'7, 1950 Steibel' June 30, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS I 7 Great Britain July 7, 1943 

12. IN A MOTOR HAVING A CHAMBER CONNECTED WITH A SOURCE OF FLUID, A TURBINE MOVABLE IN SAID CHAMBER, A PLURALITY OF FLUID INLETS IN SAID CHAMBER EACH DIRECTING THE FLUID AGAINST SAID TURBINE, ONE OF SAID FLUID INLETS DIRECTING THE FLUID AGAINST THE TURBINE TO ROTATE THE SAME AND AT LEAST ANOTHER OF SAID PLURALITY OF FLUID INLETS DIRECTING THE 